Thursday December 4, 2025 "So ... Today ... We're Going To Try and Fix ... This Windshield ... Wiper ...Blade ... Motor."

   The title of this blog post is a direct quote from this YouTube DIY link that inspired me to fix my 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback, although his example features a 1999 model LO and isn't the same color -- nor sporting what has proved to be quite an attention getter, and so much so that just yesterday, December 3rd, 2025 at 9:48 AM, Chairman Joe himself texted me, "I saw your car at Kevin's. You're (the) only Subaru Legacy with a KOJB:  bumper sticker in Roseau, I think. Troubles?" 

   I mean, Kevin's Garage isn't located on Main Street, if you know what I'm sayin'. Joe musta driven around the block and down a couple alleys (He's known for that) to see my Soob, then gotten down on his knees to see that bumper sticker on 'tween it and that white '24 Nissan parked behind it, to make sure it was my car because there is another just like it--almost.. I just replied. "Oil change," which seemed to satisfy him: "Ah so. Good to go."

   Recently, I sought my now very-much-older-friend Arthur's, recommendation for a petroleum-based penetrant that would disintegrate rust from between two or more objects without the direct application of heat or extraordinary force leaving the surfaces intact but retractable. I had chosen Arthur this time, for I concluded, (and rightly so as will become obvious), because he had been an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic in northern California for many years during the 1970s; and in his spare time, he morphed into a master swordsmith specializing in medieval Viking swords, daggers, axes, and spears that he had meticulously handcrafted for international sale and regional renaissance fairs. I figured, if anybody, would know about such a phenomenal product, he would. He did not fail me. 

 

I've reinvested a pretty penny in my 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback, and its been worth it.

    One day the Subaru's rear wiper quit working. Never had issues with it before. I thought it strange, but since we haven't been getting any rain for weeks up here in this corner of Minnesota, I let it go. It could've been something simple, like a fuse, but I never looked to see (it's always such a jungle of wires and stuff under the dash there ....) I hoped it would fix itself. Hey, sometimes it does. And, sometimes it's maybe not broke, but is just momentarily awry instead. Or maybe it just needs 'a small tap,' like the ones I used that 'fixed' the windshield wiper motor for months on end on the '93 Silverado, until the tap became a whack, and it didn't. YouTube said I had to buy an inexpensive solid-state part to make it work.

   Of course, the answer to many car repair problems today is of course YouTube. I could of gotten into some real trouble having a helper like that when I started driving and fiddling with them. "Drop a small block V8 into a 1970 VW beetle? No problem. Keeping it on the road; new problem. So as putting things off is my lifetime mantra except for one major thing (Purchasing my farm in 1971. Impulsive action. Instant result.) I entered "Rear wiper motor on 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback doesn't work." Coincidentally, the decal on the back of the car featured says, "What would Scooby do?"

   If Scooby had a brain in his head, figuratively speaking, I'd urge him to buy an 8-ounce bottle of Mouse Milk. 

 

   I had a couple drops left in an old bottle I had wedged in the door compartment of my truck that might do the trick -- and I mean, just a couple tweensy drops. I'm not fooling. So I (uncharacteristically) immediately ordered another bottle of the stuff to get it on its way from this outfit, but there are others. I opened the hatch on the Soob and lifted it enough so the wiper blade shaft was as straight as I could get it. Then I dropped a wee bit of this Mouse Milk on the shaft so it would follow the shaft into the base of the wiper motor. I didn't use a copious amount, didn't paint it on the shaft, I just let it do its thing. I left it alone for three days -- it probably would've worked overnight. I never checked. But it still works today. Never had to take off the inside panels, etc, etc. 

   Read the articles about it. They use it on aircraft and a bunch of different equipment. It's a fantastic product. You have Arthur to thank for it.